Hong Kong job scam used Cantonese test to deny refunds
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
A 47-year-old carpenter from Jian'ou in Fujian said he was lured by online videos advertising jobs in Hong Kong and was later asked to pay placement and agency fees to Shaanxi Chengwanju Human Resources Co. Ltd. He told Chinese media that the intermediary had promised a refund if he could not go to Hong Kong, but after he failed two Cantonese tests, the company became difficult to reach and no refund was processed. Another job seeker from Jilin reported a similar experience after paying more than 20,000 yuan for a kitchen helper job linked to Hong Kong. The report said such Cantonese-training hurdles have become a common tactic in alleged scams targeting mainland workers seeking higher-paid jobs in Hong Kong.
Key Points
- Cai, a 47-year-old woodworker and renovation worker from Jian'ou, Fujian, contacted a man surnamed Cao after seeing short-video recruitment posts in January.
- After repeated WeChat exchanges, Cao sent the corporate account details and payment code of Shaanxi Chengwanju Human Resources, and Cai paid 1,800 yuan on January 20.
- Ten days later, Cai transferred another 19,600 yuan in agency fees and signed an online intermediary service agreement with the company.
- Cai said he failed two Cantonese tests, then sought a refund, but Cao redirected him to a staff member surnamed Wang who said he handled training only.
- A Ministry of Commerce database showed only 14 mainland companies were approved to operate Hong Kong labour export business, and Chengwanju was not listed.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case points to how demand for better-paid cross-border work can be exploited through unofficial recruitment channels tied to the city. It also underlines the importance of checking whether intermediaries are formally approved for Hong Kong labour placements before any fees are paid.